Florence Pugh calls for greater accountability after a former Cornell student filed a lawsuit alleging sexual assault at a fraternity house in 2024.

Florence Pugh has spoken out against Cornell University following a civil lawsuit alleging that seven Chi Phi fraternity members sexually assaulted a former student in 2024.

In an extensive statement posted on Instagram on Sunday, Pugh said she felt “uneasy and sick and anxious” after reading about the case and criticised what she described as educational institutions failing women who report sexual violence.

“I’m no longer tired — I’m enraged by schools protecting boys, in fear of their futures being wrecked,” Pugh wrote.

She questioned why an accused person’s reputation should receive greater consideration than the impact on an alleged victim, while calling for greater accountability and urging men to speak out against sexual violence.

Lawsuit alleges 2024 assault at Cornell fraternity

The lawsuit was filed in September 2026 by a former Cornell student identified as Jane Doe. The complaint alleges that she was sexually assaulted at the Chi Phi fraternity house in Ithaca in October 2024 after becoming intoxicated.

According to the complaint, Doe alleges that two fraternity members pressured her to consume a substance they described as ketamine before she was taken upstairs, where she alleges she was sexually assaulted by multiple fraternity members. The lawsuit names Cornell University, Chi Phi-related organisations and seven current or former students among the defendants.

The plaintiff reportedly notified Cornell authorities about the alleged incident on November 8, 2024, several weeks after the alleged assault. The lawsuit accuses the university of failing to adequately protect her and alleges that disciplinary measures imposed on those accused were inconsistent.

The allegations have not been established in court, and the defendants are entitled to respond through the legal process.

Pugh calls for greater accountability

Pugh used her statement to broaden the discussion beyond the allegations in the lawsuit, calling for institutions to take sexual violence seriously and urging men to play a more active role in challenging such behaviour.

She argued that universities and other educational institutions should provide environments in which women can report sexual violence without feeling that institutional interests or reputations take precedence.

“There is no equality until you respect our bodies,” Pugh wrote. “There is no equality until you stop damaging our souls. There is no equality until you let us live. There is no equality until we can say we feel safe.”

The actress also directly addressed the plaintiff, writing:

“To Jane Doe who bravely stood up to the despicable college that chose to do the wrong thing, you are so unbelievably powerful.”

Cornell responds to allegations

Cornell issued a statement on September 21, saying that the university “takes sexual violence extremely seriously”.

The university also confirmed that Chi Phi’s Xi chapter remains barred from campus.

Cornell Vice President for University Relations Kyle Kimball said federal privacy laws restrict the university’s ability to disclose information about individual students’ disciplinary outcomes.

He added that violations of university policies can result in sanctions “up to and including suspension or expulsion”.

Cornell also said it established a Presidential Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault following the alleged 2024 incident. According to the university, several recommendations in the task force’s March 2026 report have already been implemented.

Civil case remains ongoing

The lawsuit represents allegations made by the plaintiff and has not resulted in a court finding that the defendants committed the alleged conduct.

The Cornell Daily Sun reported that an attorney for one of the defendants disputed the allegations against his client, saying the defence possessed evidence contradicting the plaintiff’s account.

Pugh’s intervention has brought additional public attention to the case, while the legal proceedings and the university’s response continue.